Self-contained developing unit



Feb. 19, 1957 Filed Dec. 4, 1953 o a z z 1 6 8 8 5 G F f 5 5 w m? 6 6 G 5 a ,0 4 e 6 w T A qi 4 8 4 a n w a 7 FIQZ United States Patent SELF-CONTAINED DEVELOPING UNIT Fred Perlin, Oconomowoc, Wis., assignor to The Parker Pen Company, Janesville, Wis., a corporation oi Wiscousin Application December 4, 1953, Serial No. 396,159 9 Claims. (Cl. 95-905) The present invention relates to means for developing photographic film and more particularly to means for developing a film in daylight.

An object of the invention is to provide a developing tank for use in conjunction with a film cartridge that is adapted for use in a camera whereby the same cartridge that is utilized in a camera may be utilized in the developing tank and the film developed therein without removing the film from the cartridge.

Another object is to provide an improved developing tank in which the fiim when placed therein is enclosed and shielded from light, whereby the operation of developing the film may be performed in daylight and the necessity for a dark room eliminated.

A further object is to provide a device of the foregoing character suitable for attachment to and cooperation with a conventional developer container.

Another and more specific object is to provide a de veloping tank of the foregoing character which because of its adaptability to a conventional developer container, may be utilized in a one-step developing process in connection with a single developer container, or utilized in a multiple-step developing process wherein the tank may be attached successively to a plurality of similar developer containers in the several steps of developing and processing a film.

A still further object is to provide a developing tank constructed for receiving a cartridge containing a film, adapted for attachment to a standard developer container and constructed so that the same cover or cap may be applied to the tank and the container, whereby the tank may be made of extremely simple form.

A further object is to provide a developing tank for use with a developer container and having a passage for flow of fluid from the container into the tank, having a novel construction light shield for the passage whereby the tank may be used with a transparent container.

Another object is to provide a developing tank adapted for securement to a developer container having novel construction for facilitating flow of fluid between the container and tank.

Another object is to provide a developing tank that is unusually simple in construction and operation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein- Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the developing tank of the present invention containing a film cartridge, and the developer container to which the tank is applied;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but in inverted position and with the valve in open position;

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the film cartridge removed from the developing tank and in closed position; and

Figure 4 is an elevational view of the developer container with the developing tank removed therefrom.

The developing tank of the invention is shown in its "ice entirety at 12 in Figures 1 and 2 and is of appropriate construction for use with a developer container 14 which may be of conventional form. Such developer containers are well known and may be in the form of a cylindrical jar having an open mouth exteriorly threaded at 16. The jar may be made of glass or other suitable material such as transparent plastic which is not affected by the developer solution contained therein. The jar or container is normally closed by a removable cap 18 having a flange 2%) provided with interior threads for threaded engagement with the threads on the mouth of the jar. The cap 18 is specially constructed for cooperation with the developing tank 12 in the developing operation but is nevertheless effective for closing the container or jar 14 when the developing tank is removed therefrom. The detailed construction of the cap will be referred to later in connection with the construction of the developing tank.

The developing tank is adapted for use with a film cartridge of the type shown in Figure 3, and included in the assembly of Figures 1 and 2. This cartridge may be of the general type shown and claimed in my prior Patent No. 2,521,743, issued September 12, 1950. As disclosed in that patent the cartridge is adapted for the reception of a film and for insertion of the cartridge into a camera. When the film is in the cartridge and the cartridge is not in the camera, the film is protected against exposure to light; upon insertion of the cartridge into the camera, the cartridge is opened for exposure of the film to a lens arrangement for receiving photographic images. Upon removal of the cartridge from the camera, the cartridge automatically closes and seals the film against exposure to light.

A similar condition exists in connection with the use of the cartridge with the developing tank of the present invention. The same cartridge having the exposed film taken from the camera can be inserted in the developing tank. Upon insertion of the cartridge into the developing tank, the cartridge is opened while being protected against exposure to light, and the developing tank when attached to a developer container can be manipulated for applying the developer solution in the container to the film. Upon completion of the developing process, the cartridge is removed from the developing tank and thereupon the film may be removed from the cartridge in the light.

The various elements will be considered, for convenience, as being in upright position in Figures 1, 3, and 4.

The cartridge, shown isolated in Figure 3, includes a" cylindrical wall element 24 closed at its upper end by a cup shaped end member 26 suitably secured to the wall element in such a manner as to seal the juncture against the admission of light and to normally retain it on the wall member, but to enable its removal therefrom upon application of appropriate force for that purpose. The end member 26 may have a recess 28 for recption of one end of a spring 30. The lower open end of the cartridge is provided with an in-turned annular flange 32 and is closed by a closure element 34 generally in the form of a disc but having a down-turned peripheral flange 36 forming an annular recess 38 for receiving the flange 32. The recess and flange 32 form a light seal when the closure element is in closed position as shown in Figure 3, against the admission of light into the cartridge. The spring 30 is relatively weak for a purpose which will be brought out fully hereinafter, but is effective for normally retaining the closure element 34 in lowered position for closing the cartridge.

A film 42 is shown in the cartridge, being appropriately placed for exposing it in a camera in a manner described above and retention in such position for developing purposes described hereinafter. The film 42, inserted into the cartridge after removal of the end cap 26, lies against enemas o the inner surface of the wall element 24, as described in my prior patent above referred to.

The developing tank 12 may be made of any opaque material suitable for the purpose that is not deleteriously aflected by the developing solution used in the process, and preferably is made of two parts 44 and 46 secured together in such a manner as to form an effectively integral article. The tank, for purposes of convenience, will be referred to as having a lower end and an upper end as oriented in Figure 1. The lower portion 44 of the tank includes a cylindrical wall element 48 and a transverse wall or partition 50 defining a lower flange 52 and an upper flange 54. The lower flange 52 is provided with internal threads for engaging the threads 16 on the developer container 14 and when screwed down on this flange the transverse wall or partition 50 engages the upper end of the open mouth of the jar.

The transverse wall or partition 50 is provided with a central passage '5 for establishing communication between the developer container and the interior of the tank. Preferably the central passage is surrounded by a downwardly extending boss 56 in which is formed a valve seat 58 preferably downwardly diverging so as to facilitate seating thereon of a complementally tapered valve closer 59. The boss 56 also serves as a means for mounting a light trap 60 having an annular longitudinal fiange 62 friction-fitted on the boss 56 and an in-turned radially extending flange 64 provided with a central aperture 66 which is at least as small as the passage 55 or as small as the valve closer 59. The aperture 66 and the valve closer 59 are in longitudinal alignment so that any light passing through the aperture must necessarily be directed against the base of the valve closer and thus be prevented from entering into the interior of the developing tank when the valve is open. Any light which may pass through the passage in the valve closer is effectively shielded by the elements of the cartridge at the top. The arrangement precludes any light from entering into the interior of the tank from an angle because of the relative sizes and positions of the light trap and valve closer.

The upper part 46 of the developing tank is generally in the form of a cylinder and is inserted into the lower portion and fitted therein by suitable means such as by friction engagement or by a suitable cement. A resilient sealing Washer 63 is interposed between the lower end of the upper part 46 and the transverse wall element 50 for additionally sealing the juncture between the two parts of the tank and for engaging the outer surface of the cartridge and sealing that location against, the passage of the developing fluid.

The upper end of the upper part 46 of the tank is exte riorly threaded as at 7 (l for receiving the threads 20 of the cap 18 and are identical with the threads 16 on the developer container so as to enable the same cap to be utilized on the container and tank. The upper part 46 of the tank is of suitable vertical dimensions to determine the height of the interior of the tank of suitable dimensions for receiving the cartridge 22.

The valve passage 55 in the transverse wall 50 is normally closed by the valve closer 59 which is provided with a head 74 having a seating surface of tapered shape adapted to engage the seating surface 58 on the valve seat. The valve closer also includes the tubular stem 76 extending through the passage 55' andup into the interior of the tank where it is threaded or otherwise suitably secured in a tubular member 78 terminating upwardly in a transverse portion or head 80. The passage 82 in the tubular stem 76 continues downwardly through the head 74 on the valve closer and the tubular member 78 is open through the top, thereby providing a continuous passage through the valve closer from the interior of the developer container to the interior of the tank. The head 80 is provided with one or more transverse grooves 84 for at. establishing a passage past the disc 34 wl en the head is in engagement therewith (Figures 1 and 2).

The valve closer 59 is retained in upper normally closed position by means of a compression spring 86 surrounding the stem and tubular member 73 and compressed between the head 89 and the transverse wall 59. If desired, the wall 56 may be provided with a recess as shown for receiving the lower end of the spring and the tubular member '78 may be provided with a boss for centering the upper end of the spring. The spring $6 is effective for normally retaining the valve closer in upper closed position and so retains it except when pressure is applied in a manner to be described hereinafter for opening the valve. The spring 86 is substantially stronger than the spring 30 in the cartridge so that the former overpowers the latter and retains the valve closed in the condition stated against the opposition of the spring 36.

The cap 13 is adapted from a conventional jar cap which originally may include merely a top plane element and a surrounding threaded flange. The plane element 88 of such cap, and as herein constructed, is provided with a concentric aperture 5%, and an annular plate 92 similar in contour to the element 55 is positioned on the inner side of the cap with a flexible and resilient diaphragm 94 interposed therebetween. The diaphragm is imperforate and extends transversely across the aperture in? and the corresponding aperture in the annular plate When the cap is threaded down on the tank, the annular plate 92 and the diaphragm are gripped between the element 33 and the upper edge of the tank, retaining the diaphragm in position. The diaphragm exposed through the aperture for engagement by the thumb or finger (Figure 2) for depression of the central portion of. the diaphragm in the developing operation.

in the use of the developing tank of the invention, the cap 18 is removed from the developer container or jar 14 (Figure 4) and the developing tank is threaded onto the jar, when the latter is of course in upright position. A cartridge as shown in Figure 3 which is loaded with an exposed film ready for development is then inserted in the upper end of the developing tank. if desired, the cartridge may be inserted into the tank before the latter is secured to the jar. In the inserting movement of the can tridge, the closure plate 34 is engaged by the head 80 of the valve member and raised (relatively speaking) to its uppermost position (Figure 1) until it reaches and abuts the end member 26 of the cartridge, in which position the cartridge is fully inserted in the developing tank. Throughout the steps of inserting the cartridge into the developing tank the interior of the cartridge is sealed against the entrance of light. When the closure member or plate 34 is lifted from its lower closed position in the cartridge, the lower end of the cartridge will have entered the tank so that all light is excluded from the cartridge. Upon completion of the inserting movement of the cartridge, the cap 18 is threaded onto the developing tank and the cartridge bears upwardly against the flexible diaphragm 94. The relative dimensions of the various parts are such that when the cartridge is inserted in the developing tank the central portion of the diaphragm is flexed outwardly (i. e., upwardly) by the cartridge and normally retained in such position by the spring 86. This spring as was pointed out above is substantially stronger than the spring 30 whereby it not only retains the valve closer 59 in closed position, but also retains the cartridge in its position against the flexible diaphragm, acting through the closure plate 34 which abuts the end member 26. The interior of the developing tank in vertical direction is such as to permit limited vertical movement of the cartridge for enabling the valve to be opened in response to the diaphragm being flexed or depressed inwardly or downwardly from its normally uppermost position (Figure 1).

When the cartridge is thus inserted in the developing tank, as described, the lower end of the cartridge is opened,

enabling the free flow of developing fluid thereinto which then contacts the film and produces the developing process.

In the use of the device the assembly, including the jar and developing tank with the cap applied to the tank, is inverted t6 the position shown in Figure 2, and the flexible diaphragm 94 is depressed or flexed inwardly (upwardly in this position). This movement of the flexible diaphragm causes the cartridge as a whole to be moved upwardly and the motion is transmitted through the closure plate 34 to the head 80 of the valve member whereupon the valve closer 59 is opened as shown in Figure 2. The developing fluid in the container then i permitted to flow down into the interior of the tank either through the passage 82 or around the valve closer through the passage 55. The two passages thus provided establish a. counter flow for liquid and air, i. e., when the liquid flows through one of the passages, the air in the tank is enabled to flow through the other into the container or jar. In normal operation, the liquid may flow for example through the passage 55 and the air flows from the cartridge through the passage 82 into the jar. The cross grooves 84 provide a free passage for the air from the interior of the cartridge into the passage 82'which may otherwise be impeded by reason of the engagement between the head 80 and the closure element or plate 34. If desired, a single passage may be provided for flow of liquid and counterflow of air, but plural passages are found to be more effective.

After the cartridge has been filled with developing liquid, which may be determined by observing that the flow of bubbles into the jar has ceased, the user releases the diaphragm and thespring 86 then moves the valve to closed position whereupon the assembly of the jar and developing tank is reinverted to upright position shown in Figure l. The liquid in the cartridge is thereby trapped and held until the valve is again opened for enabling the liquid to flow into the jar or container.

The lower extremity of the grooves 84 i at least as high as the upper extremity of the portion of the film to be developed whereby the level of the liquid as determined by the height of the grooves 84, is maintained sufliciently high to cover that portion of the film.

After the liquid has been held in the cartridge for the desired period of time for developing the film, the user merely depresses the flexible diaphragm 94 when the assembly is in its upright position, which moves the valve to open position and enables the liquid to flow from the cartridge out through the passage 55 back into the container or jar. Thereupon the cartridge may be removed from the developing tank after removal of the cap 18.

The developing tank is adaptable to one-step develop ing processes in which the developing fluid contains not only the ingredients for developing per se, but also for fixing the images. It is also adapted for developing processes involving a plurality of distinct steps such, for example, as developing per se, fixing, and rinsing. In such multi-ste-p process, a plurality of jars 14 may be provided and all equipped with caps such as the cap .18 herein. Such jars being a standard item, a plurality of similar jars may be provided for containing the difierent liquids or solutions. for the various steps in the developing process, and the same developing tank may be applied to the various jars in succession, and in each phase the user carries out the operating steps described above. It will be understood, of course, that the various containers or jars to be used with the developing tank may be provided with conventional caps and a single cap such as the cap '18 herein provided for the developing tank and in the use of the tank the same cap 18 may be used in each of the steps of the process, but an advantage of the developing tank is that the same cap such as 18 used for the developing tank may be also used for closing the container or jar when the latter is not in use in a developing process.

The developing tank atfords a means for developing in daylight ofa filmcontained in a cartiidgewhichis also adapted for insertion in a camera and'removal therefrom in daylight.

The device is unusually simple in construction and in operation.

The developing tank has the advantage of being extremely portable so that it can be used in practically any location and under virtually all conditions and eliminates necessity for stationary or complicated equipment.

I claim:

l. A developing device comprising a tank having means at one end for securement to a container, a lighttight film cartridge removably mounted in said tank and including a casing open at one end and a movable closure element biased to closed position, said tank also including a cap removably secured thereto at the end opposite said one end, norm-ally closed and yieldable valve means in said tank engaging said closure element and retaining the latter in open position when the cartridge is in the tank, and said tank having a flexible diaphragm sealed in the cap with a portion accessible from the exterior operable upon movement thereof for moving the cartridge bodily and thereby moving said valvet means to open position for establishing communication between the container and tank.

2. A developing device comprising a light-tight cartridge including a casing having an open end and a closure element in the casing movable between a position closing the open end and an open position in engagement with the element closing the opposite end, spring means biasing said closure element to closing position, said device also including a tank having means at one end for securement to a container and having a passage leading from the interior of the tank to the container, normally closed valve means in said passage extending into the cartridge casing when the latter is in the tank and operative to retain said closure element in its open position, a cap removably secured on said tank at the end of the latter opposite the container, and a flexible diaphragm sealed.

in said cap accessible from the exterior operative upon depression thereof for engaging the. cartridge and, acting therethrough, opening said valve means for establishing communication between the container and tank.

3. For use in developing films, a tank having means at one endfor securement to a container, a cap removably secured to the opposite end, said cap having a flexible element sealed therein exposed to the exterior and to the interior of the tank, said tank having an end wall adjacent. saidfirst end with a passage therein communicating between the container and the tank, a light-tight film cartridge mounted in said tank for limited sliding movement in the directions of said ends and having an opening with a normally closed closure element, means retaining the closure element open when the cartridge is in the tank, valve means in said passage and extending into the interior of the tank into engagement with the cartridge, and spring means urging said valve means to closed position and said cartridge into engagement with said flexible member, the arrangement being such that depression on the exterior of the said flexible element, as by the finger, acting through the cartridge effects opening of said valve means. i

4. For use in developing films, a tank having means at one end for securement to a container and an end wall adjacent said end with a passage establishing communication between the container and tank, a cap removably secured on the opposite end and having a flexible diaphragm sealed therein exposed to the exterior and to the interior of the tank, a film cartridge mounted for limited sliding movement in the tank in the directions of said ends and including an open-ended casing and a closure element and spring therein, said cartridge being positioned with the open end of the casing directed toward said end wall, said closure element being mounted for sliding movement between a position closing said open end of the casing; and an open position adjacent the op;-

pos'ite end, and said spring biasing's'aid closure element toward said. closed position, said tank also including valve meansi'n' s'a'id passage and projecting into said casing and into engagement with said closure element and of sufii'cient length. to retain said closure element in its open position, and a second spring of greater strength than the first spring urging said valve means to' closed position and" acting through said closure element urging the cartridge easing into engagement with said flexible element.

5. A device for developing films for use with a de veloper container having threads'at an open end, comprising a tank having threadsat one end for threaded securcment with the threads on the container, and having an opposite open end, valve means in said tank for control 'ling" communication between the container and tank, a light-tight cartridge in said tank insertable and removable through said open end of the tank and mounted for limited longitudinal movement therein, said tank having threads at its said opposite end, and a cap threaded on the latter threads, the" threads on the ends of the tank being respectively oppositely and eomplementally arranged whereby said cap can be utilized for closing the container, said cap having a flexible element accessible from the exterior and disposed adjacent the valve means and operative in response to depression from the exterior for opening said valve means.

6. A device for developing films comprising a tank having means at one end for securement to a container,

and having its opposite end open and threaded, a cap removably secured to said open end and including a threaded flange engaging said threads, an annular end element,v a second annular element on the inner surface of the end element and an imperforate flexible diaphragm i interposed between the end element and second annular element, a light-tight film cartridge removably mounted in said tank, and normally closed valve means for controlling communication between the container and tank,

said flexible diaphragm being operative in response to L inward depression thereof for opening said valve means.

7. A device" for developing films comprising a tank having means at a normally lower end for securement to acontainerandhaving'its opposite and normally upper end open for insertion and removal of a film cartridge secured to the upper end and having a flexible element adjacent the upper end of said stem exposed to the inte'rior ofthe tank and to the exterior, said flexible element being. adapted to be depressed in, response to pressure applied to its exterior surface and operative for engaging a cartridge in the tank and, acting therethrou'gh, engaging the valve stem and opening theiva-lve.

8. A developing device comprising a tank having means at one end for securement to a container and having a passage communicating with the container and the interior of the tank, the other end being closed by a removable cap, a' film cartridge having a casing and an open end and a closure element for closing the open end and sealing the cartridge against light, spring means yieldingly biasing the closure element to closed position, the cartridge being rem'o'vably mounted in the tank with its open end toward the container, and the tank having a projection engaging the closure element and of such length to move the closure element to open position when the cartridge is in the casing.

9. A developing device for use with a film cartridge of the type including a casing having an open end, a closure element movable axially of said casing between a position closing said end and a position displaced inwardly from said end, and means yieldably' urging said closure elem'ent't-ow'ards closing position, said device comprising a housing having a partition therein dividing the housing into two compartments and having a passage therethrough providing communication between said compartments, one end of said housing having an opening leading into one of said compartments for admitting said cartridge therein, a cover for closing said open end of said housing, a valve sl'idable in said housing between a position closing said passage and an open position and having a stern projecting into said one compartment to a distance whereby when said cartridge is disposed in said housing with the open end facing inwardly, said stern maintains said closure element in its displaced position, means yieldably urging said valve toward closed position and maintaining said stem in said projecting position, said cover having a resilient deformable portion aligned with said valve stem whereby the latter may be depressed manually from outside said housing to open said valve.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,242,600 Reyniers May 20, 1941 2,419,859 Tarr et al. Apr. 29, 194-7 FOREIGN PATENTS 644,356 Great Britain Oct. 11, 1950 

